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Greg Laurie Will Return to Pulpit This Sunday: ‘My Symptoms Were Never That Bad’

By
Jesse T. Jackson
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Riverside, California’s Harvest Christian Fellowship Pastor, Greg Laurie tested positive for COVID-19 just a little over a week ago. In an update posted to Facebook on Friday, October 5, 2020, Laurie said he plans on preaching this coming Sunday, October 18th.

Pastor Laurie thanked people for the prayers and attributed his lack of symptoms to those prayers. He said, “My symptoms were never that bad. Thank God for that! I know it isn’t that way for everyone, but it was for me and I attribute that to so many people praying.” The pastor also said he was thankful for all the encouraging comments on his social media accounts.

Laurie attended the White House’s Supreme Court nomination ceremony of Judge Amy Coney Barrett on September 26, 2020. That event reported at least 11 positive cases and has been called a “superspreader event” by White House coronavirus task force member Dr. Anthony Fauci. The nomination event has been named as the possible location where the President of the United States, Donald Trump, contracted the virus that sent him to Walter Reed Hospital for three days. On October 12, 2020, the Physician to the President, Dr. Sean P. Conley, released a statement saying President Trump has tested negative consecutive days for the COVID-19 virus, and he is not infectious to others.

On Friday, Laurie announced that he has completed his 10-day isolation period and is planning to be back in the pulpit this coming Sunday, October 18, 2020. Both Harvest Christian Fellowship’s locations in California have been meeting outside and practicing social distancing. The Orange County location has created a safe space to worship by converting their parking garage into an area they now call their church home. The Riverside location holds two worship services under a large tent outside.

In the closing statement of the short video, the pastor asked everyone to please continue to pray for those who have been infected by the coronavirus “that they too would have a quick and complete recovery.”

Sean Feucht Brings COVID Worship Protest to Nashville, Had No Permit Say Health Officials

By
Bob Smietana
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NASHVILLE (RNS) — Christian musician Sean Feucht brought his worship protest tour to Nashville on Sunday (Oct. 11).

Feucht played before a mostly maskless crowd gathered on a public square in front of the Nashville Metropolitan Courthouse. Video of the event shows thousands of tightly packed people jumping and raising their hands as Feucht and his band play.

“We had THREE venue changes and so much resistance,” Feucht wrote on Twitter. “BUT THE CHURCH WILL NOT BE SILENCED!”

The Christian musician and worship leader has held a number of outdoor concerts and protest events around the country in recent months. After a September concert was canceled in Seattle, Feucht held an impromptu musical street protest instead.

Feucht has ties to Bethel Community Church, a prominent California charismatic congregation. Earlier this year, the church criticized a concert held in its community by Feucht for failing to follow planned safety precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The Metro Nashville Health Department issued a statement Monday, saying that Feucht did not apply for a permit.

“The Health Department is very concerned by the actions that took place at the event and we are investigating and will pursue appropriate penalties against the organizer,” the department said in a statement.

At least one conservative Nashville pastor was perplexed by Feucht’s choosing Nashville for his event, noting that the city’s churches and other houses of worship have been cleared to meet in person.

“I don’t mind people protesting where churches aren’t able to meet,” said the Rev. Thomas McKenzie, pastor of Church of the Redeemer, a conservative Anglican Church in North America congregation. “Nashville makes no sense.”

McKenzie said his congregation has been meeting at their church for months. They follow Nashville’s guidelines for meeting in person, including wearing masks and social distancing. McKenzie has also offered drive-in communion in the parking lot.

As far as he could tell, Feucht’s worship protest ignored the city’s advice.

“All I see is a concert with no social distancing,” he said. “It seems to be this is more about Sean and less about Jesus.”

Many of Nashville’s largest congregations, including Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Long Hollow Baptist Church, and CrossPointe Church, have been holding online services due to COVID-19.

A strategic planning document posted on the Mt. Zion Baptist website outlines the process the Black charismatic megachurch used to determine its response to the coronavirus pandemic. After consulting health experts and church leaders, the megachurch has decided to keep worshipping online.

“Because of Mt. Zion’s size, capacity, and reach in the community, hosting in-person worship services now and in the near future (before a COVID-19 vaccine) are not felt to be safe,” the report states.

An analysis of cell-phone travel data found that worship attendance in September was down 30 percent from February 2020, according to the Tennessean newspaper in Nashville. Tennessee’s governor, Bill Lee, has encouraged congregations to meet online but has not issued any formal restrictions on worship.

City officials have planned to allow about 7,000 fans to attend Tennessee Titans football games. Nissan Stadium, where the Titans play, can hold about 70,000 fans.

Tennessee legislators have taken steps to limit protests near the state’s capitol building in downtown Nashville. After activists — including faith-based activists — camped out near the capitol to protest police brutality and racism, state legislators passed a new law making camping near the capitol a felony.

This article originally appeared on ReligionNews.com.

Is it Accurate and Loving to Point Out that Mormonism is not Biblical Christianity?

By
Randy Alcorn
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The presidential candidacies of Mitt Romney and Jon Huntsman have raised again the “Mormon question.” A pastor’s comment about Mormonism being a cult generated a tornado of media reaction.

We all know and love Mormon friends and neighbors, and don’t want to appear negative or judgmental. Ironically, national media comments and columns abound which show extreme intolerance of evangelical Christians thinking a candidate’s religious worldview is important. Unless, of course, the candidate is an orthodox Bible-believing Christian, in which case he is clearly a wacko, and who in his right mind would vote for a wacko? This is the routine assessment of some who pride themselves on being tolerant and non-judgmental.

The who-do-you-vote-for-question isn’t an easy one, but I have found there is an immense amount of confusion among evangelical Christians about what Mormonism really is. Many view it as if it were just one more Christian denomination. Historically, that is simply false. Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism, made that emphatically clear. My reason for this blog is not to argue about who to vote for, but to argue that we should all acknowledge what is objectively true, and not true, about Mormonism and actual Mormon teachings. The beliefs of the LDS religion are not speculation. They are all a matter of record. I have read the Mormon holy books and hundreds of pages of theological statements made by Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, and other Mormon leaders. I know what they teach, and have had long conversations with Mormon elders about their doctrines. I have read to them from the teachings of their own prophets, and they have read to me the same.

Al Mohler has expressed some clear thoughts about Mormonism and whether or not it is a cult or claims to be the one true religion, an alternative to historic orthodox Christianity. He also goes on to tackle the more difficult question of whether true followers of Jesus should support and vote for a Mormon. I encourage you to read carefully Al’s thoughtful piece (and I encourage you to listen to or read him regularly, as he is a good and biblical thinker). I know there will still be disagreement, but please, in addition to being kind and gracious, let’s try to be truthful and accurate about Mormonism.

One thing important to remember—and this has nothing to do with politics, and everything to do with how we can show the love of Jesus to people—it may appear unkind to suggest a professing Christian is not a true follower of Jesus. And it may seem kind and gracious to call someone a true Christian just because he professes to be and thinks he is. But if he is not a true Christian who believes in the true Christ revealed in Scripture, it is terribly unkind. Why? Because the worst possible condition for unbelievers is to think they are believers. Only when we realize we are without Christ and do not know Christ can we turn to Christ. Only when we believe we are sinners desperately in need of a salvation that can only come through turning to and believing in Christ, the divine Son of God not by being a good person and doing good things and belonging to a certain church—can we actually experience the saving grace of Jesus.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

“But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:4-7).

There is the true Christ, and there are false christs. There is the true gospel, and there are false gospels. Paul says this in Galatians 1:6-10:

I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed! For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.

At the risk of further controversy, here is a contrast between key biblical teachings and Mormon teachings: And here is a summary of key LDS doctrines by a former Mormon who came to faith in Christ and left Mormonism.

Don’t ask yourself, “How can I appear to be kind and non-judgmental in the eyes of the world and other Christians?” Ask yourself, “How can I actually please my Lord, the Audience of One? And how can I truly love my neighbor who doesn’t know Jesus? What can I do for him and say to him that God’s Holy Spirit could use to reveal to him his unbelief in the true Jesus and the true gospel, and his need to turn to Christ in repentance and faith, and embrace the gift of eternal life?”

The important thing is not to appear to love our neighbors (by ignoring their lostness and withholding the truth), but to actually love our neighbors by acting in their best interests. We do that by lovingly sharing the truth about Jesus and the good news He offers to sinners, who can be saved only by Him, never by a church, religion or human effort.

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Why We Desperately Need to Learn to Discern

By
James Emery White
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Here’s why we desperately need to learn to discern.

A well-known doctor told thousands of viewers tuning into an Instagram live video that she knew the best way to “prevent and fight COVID-19.”

At the time (April 20, 2020), the virus had already killed 50,000 Americans. Scientists then, as now, were working around the clock to find a safe and effective treatment.

The doctor, Dominique Fradin-Read, is widely known in the “wellness” community. She owns the Los Angeles based medical practice VitaLifeMD and helped develop the “Madame Ovary” supplement for Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop brand.

Fradin-Read claimed to have an “FDA-approved” medicine that worked like “magic.” She made similar claims on her practice’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts.

According to an investigative report on National Public Radio (NPR):

“Such claims were, at best, misleading. At worst, the recommendations could put patients’ health at risk. The drug, thymosin alpha-1, has never been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for any condition, nor has it been proven safe or effective for treating COVID-19. The company that supplied Fradin-Read the drug has also faced scrutiny from the federal government for alleged violations of lab safety standards.”

NPR further revealed that Fradin-Read’s practice “is one of more than 30 medical practices and compounding pharmacies across more than a dozen states that have made unproven claims about this drug on their websites and on social media.” Further, most of the medical practices that promoted the drug are not specialized in infectious diseases but rather “focus on plastic surgery or promote ‘wellness,’ ‘anti-aging’ and ‘regenerative’ medicine.”

After NPR’s inquiries, VitaLifeMD’s social media posts regarding the drug were removed from Facebook and Twitter.

What makes this story worth telling is that it reflects countless other sources and streams of information being put forward on the internet that are misleading or simply false. Even worse, many streams, websites, blogs, podcasts, “studies” and more have some basis in truth and may be disseminated by someone who is credentialed. In this case, a doctor was behind the misinformation. And not only that, but she offered “studies” to support her claims—they just weren’t reputable ones.

For example, when questioned by NPR:

“Fradin-Read also said ‘thymosin alpha-1 has tons of studies’ in scientific literature supporting its use for infectious diseases. For example, she sent NPR a link to a small, nonrandomized study from China, where the drug is approved. That study found some benefit in reducing deaths in severe cases of COVID-19 and was published in the scientific journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.

“The editor-in-chief of that journal, Dr. Robert Schooley, told NPR, ‘These early studies do not imply an endorsement of the agent in question, and should not be cited as that by those selling the drug without FDA approval.’ Other researchers shared Schooley’s concerns. Cynthia Tuthill is a former chief scientific officer at SciClone, the pharmaceutical company that sells the brand-name version of the drug abroad. When Tuthill learned American doctors were marketing the drug as a purportedly ‘FDA-approved’ COVID-19 treatment, she said she was ‘horrified.’

“The Federal Trade Commission and the FDA have also taken issue with such claims. The agencies warned three companies that promoting thymosin alpha-1 as a coronavirus treatment is ‘unlawful’ because such claims are ‘not supported by competent and reliable scientific evidence’ and demanded they remove those claims within 48 hours.”

I am finding an alarming increase in the number of people, exacerbated by the pandemic, who are being severely misled on any number of issues. Not simply in terms of medicine or science, but also politics, education, child-rearing and child-development, theology, conspiracy theories… there is just no end to the topics. They are often getting information that is either unreliable or biased, yet it is presented in such a way that it is “FDA approved,” backed by studies and promoted by experts.

It doesn’t help that much of this information is coming through their Facebook newsfeed or a Google search, both of which are algorithm-driven, catering to third-party interests. Yes, all things “The Social Dilemma.” (If you haven’t watched that documentary on Netflix, don’t wait another day. It’s one of the most eye-opening exposés on the power of social media I’ve ever seen.)

So, what are some best practices for discernment? Here are five:

1. Before you research anything, ask yourself what a biblical worldview might have to offer that you know would be a guiding light to your search. Determine on the front end if there is any sense of true north that you need to keep in mind as you visit sites, read studies or look for insight. Everything should be read through the lens of God’s transcendent truth.

2. Before you start googling, own your personal biases regarding the search. Ask yourself what you are hoping to find to be true, to hear, to have validated. In other words, own your personal lack of objectivity. The internet is the biggest enabler in the history of the world. Why? You can quickly and easily find support for whatever you want to find support for.

Related to this is to check your level of pride. Holding to minority reports, fringe views or out-of-the-mainstream choices can be a way of feeling superior over others. It’s almost as if doing things differently sets you apart as more knowledgeable, more informed and better than the rest. Don’t be seduced by this subtle form of hubris.

3. Start off with – and, as much as possible, stay with – mainstream sites and sources, studies and reports. Stay away from fringe sites, fringe sources, fringe “experts,” fringe opinions, fringe theories. They are usually fringe for a reason. If you don’t know the difference between a mainstream and fringe site on a particular matter, ask someone familiar with that area who might know. For example, if you are chasing something in the field of medicine, your doctor would probably recommend a site such as webMD or the Mayo Clinic site for information as opposed to the wild, wild west of what Google might provide.

The sad reality is that there are some people who distrust anyone or anything that is mainstream, as if the only truth can come from the fringe. This is why conspiracy theories flourish. Some sites even will say to not trust what “mainstream” sites or organizations say. This type of “echo chamber” is the mark of a cult, and we need to realize that many proponents of a particular viewpoint or choice are very cultish in how they put forward and hold to their position.

The goal is not to have a blind trust of authority, but a reasoned trust in expertise.

4. In terms of news, make sure you take advantage of a wide range of reputable sources. Read multiple takes on key events. I have a personal discipline that is part of my morning routine of surveying a wide range of news sources that include, but are not limited to: Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, London Telegraph, London Times, USA Today, FOX News, CNN, Christianity Today, Religion News Service, Politico, Washington Post and National Public Radio. If you are familiar with any of these, you recognize a blend of left and right, liberal and conservative, national and international, East coast and West coast. But they are all heavily invested in competent news coverage and relatively well peer reviewed.

This helps correct the tilt a newsfeed might have, or a Google search might have, in terms of its attempted “read” on my life or what might be “pushed” for my consumption.

5. Finally, become informed about credentials. For example, if someone makes a claim to be a “doctor,” discover what kind of doctor they are. If they are speaking out about something related to COVID-19, are they an actual immunologist or are they, say, a cardiologist? It matters.

My son-in-law Nick is a physician. Through him, I’ve learned that there are “doctors” and there are doctors. It matters where they went to medical school. It matters what grades they made while in medical school. It matters whether they did one year of residency or three following medical school. It matters where they did that residency. It matters whether they completed a fellowship following their residency, if they claim to be a specialist and, of course, where they did that fellowship.

All to say, when someone tells me of a settled opinion formed from their “research,” based on “experts” and “studies” that have led them to a rather unorthodox view of things, I always probe the same five areas:

What worldview did they have in play?

What were they looking to have validated?

What were the sources they were using?

What were the sources they were not using?

Were their sources credentialed?

From their answers, if invited, I can at least pinpoint next steps to help them take a step forward in one of the most important intellectual and spiritual abilities to be mastered:

The ability to learn to discern.

Sources

Tom Dreisbach, “Web of ‘Wellness’ Doctors Promote Injections of Unproven Coronavirus Treatment,” NPR, October 1, 2020, read online.

This article originally appeared here.

Are You Supposed to Distrust Yourself?

By
Alison Cook
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I was taught to distrust myself. After all, the heart is deceitful and wicked. For years, I second-guessed my every thought, feeling, or inkling. It felt wrong to listen to—let alone trust—my own instincts.

Instead, I did one of two things:

1.) I prayed for God to “just tell me” clear answers.

2.) I analyzed with friends ad-nauseam.

And, mostly, I stayed stuck. I sabotaged opportunities for happiness, and I shied away from leaning into my own wisdom and talents. I figured that since I couldn’t trust myself, it was better to play it safe.

That’s not trusting God. It’s hiding.

I didn’t yet know that I could learn, with God’s help, to trust the woman that God had made me to be. I didn’t yet know that learning to trust yourself is key to forging healthy relationships with other people.

Many of you were taught to distrust yourself based on a specific Bible verse that says, “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked” (Jer. 17:9 NLT) The problem is that this verse is taken out of context. The very same prophet who declared this bad news about our deceitful state also foretold the good news about what would happen one day when Jesus would come. Just a few chapters later, Jeremiah prophesied the solution to this problem in the coming of God’s Spirit: “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts” (Jer. 31:33 NLT).

As humans, we are not “ultimately” trustworthy like God is. We fail all the time. But, we also have access to the spirit of God inside the beautiful soul that he made. We can become trustworthy people, even as we acknowledge our shortcomings. We can learn to trust ourselves, even as we ask for help in facing our blind spots.

However, as women, we don’t often hear, let alone see modeled, what it’s like to trust the spirit that lives within us.

We don’t feel that we can trust ourselves, so we give over to self-doubt.

For example, you might find it challenging to trust yourself to:

  • Make a decision that goes against what is expected of you.
  • Call out toxic behavior.
  • See the red flags in a romantic relationship.
  • Choose a path that aligns with how God made you.

Instead of learning that you have what it takes, you defer to those outside of you. You search for answers from your parents, friends, a pastor, or spouse. That works for a time, until one of them fails you. When all else fails you might pull out the old Magic 8 Ball (or Google) for help. You grow frustrated and weary of this cycle. But, you don’t know how to stop.

After all, if you can’t trust yourself, how can you really trust anyone around you?

It’s a terrible place to find yourself.

Instead of taking charge of the things that you can (which are many), you wait around for God to bail you out.

For example you:

  • Hope God will magically put the right friends in front of you.
  • Pray your boss will do right by you, even if he’s proven otherwise.
  • Hope your spouse will somehow know what you need.
  • Pray your toxic parents will suddenly change.

When you don’t trust yourself, you put yourself at the mercy of other people. Instead of using the abilities God gave you, you lean on others blindly.

That’s not trust. It’s codependency.

A relationship is thought of as “codependent” when you rely excessively on another person. You tend to:

  • Look to another person for approval constantly.
  • Rely on others for all your decision making.
  • Let others define your needs
  • Defer always to their emotional state.

Codependency shows up in any relationship where we outsource what psychologists call our “agency” to another person. Agency is simply your ability to take charge of your life. We can give control of our lives over to our parents (even as adults), spouses, friends, pastors, and even to our children. You can even become codependent in your relationship with God. Instead of maturing into a capable, spirit-filled disciple, we stay young and unformed, hiding behind God, instead of going forth into the world shining his light.

Frankly, most women are taught that deferring our power to others is right.

It’s not.

Always deferring to someone else can appear like you’re being loving, faithful, or a servant. But, it’s not. It’s hitching on to someone else instead of doing the hard work of healing, growing, and becoming more of your true self.

I lived hidden like that for years. And, I hid behind God.

But, then God called me out, and I had to change. I started the work of healing with God’s help.

Think of it this way: when someone really loves you, they call you out of hiding. They ask you to step out from behind where you are hiding because they want to see you. They want to get to know who you are. They want to beam with pride as you move, think, express, and create. And something beautiful happens as you are seen in this way:

Trust starts to develop. You start to trust yourself, the woman God made. Other people start to see you as trustworthy. And, God celebrates.

God does not want a codependent relationship with you.

He is calling you out of hiding. He wants to see you, know you, and nudge you. He wants you to become the trustworthy person he made.

To be clear, here are some examples of what trusting yourself is and is not.

Trusting yourself is:

  • Becoming aware of your needs and how to meet them.
  • Taking responsibility for your decisions.
  • Honoring your emotions in challenging situations.
  • Building a support network that understands you.
  • Standing up for your convictions.

Trusting yourself is not:

  • “You doing you” regardless the cost.
  • Never caring what others think.
  • Turning your back on God.
  • Never seeking help or advice.
  • Placing “ultimate” trust in yourself.

Trusting yourself leads to trustworthiness. And, this is a key quality in healthy relationships. As you learn to trust what you need and want in your life, you will start to understand how to detect trustworthiness in other people.

An Exercise in Trusting Yourself

The opposite of trusting yourself is self-doubt. If you’ve struggled with trusting yourself, try the following exercise. Take out a blank piece of paper and divide it into two halves. Think of a situation where you continually doubt yourself and start to pay attention to the messages in your mind.

1.) List your “Doubt Yourself” Messages.

On one side of the paper list the “doubt yourself” messages that run through your mind. These messages can show up in any number of ways. They often include the words, “I can’t,”  “I’m not”, or “They are”.

  • I can’t trust what I want.
  • I’m not good enough/strong enough.
  • They are so much smarter/wiser than me.
  • I can’t be sure what I’m feeling is right.
  • I don’t have what it takes.

2.) List your “What if God Does” Messages.

Often we are afraid to believe that God is entrusting key decisions and relationships to us. He believes in us more than we believe in ourselves. Like a good parent, he wants us to find our way. On the other side of the paper make a second list. On this list, give yourself permission to write down “What if God Does” messages.  For example, What if God Does:

  • Want me to make this decision on behalf of myself.
  • Believe I have what it takes.
  • Want me to trust my instincts about the next step.
  • Value the concerns I have about this relationship.
  • Honor the wisdom I’ve gained.

3.) Get Curious.

Take a look at both columns. At this point, don’t evaluate which side is “right” or “wrong.” Instead, get curious about each of the columns and what it feels like inside to see them in front of you. Simply notice what it’s like to get these messages out of your head and onto the page in front of you.

Getting curious shifts you out of old patterns of thinking and creates space for new possibilities. It helps you become more aware of habits or behaviors that may no longer be healthy for you.

4.) Invite God to Draw Near.

Prayerfully consider both columns, inviting God to draw near. What would it be like to take a step toward trusting yourself with God’s help? Is it possible he’s nudging you toward making a brave decision? Don’t rush into making a big change at this point. Simply notice any assumptions you’ve been making about God.

The point of this exercise is to grow in self + God-awareness. It’s to begin to notice messages that you might be listening to that aren’t actually what God wants or what is best for you.

Remember: Learning to trust yourself does not mean you stop trusting God. The two are not mutually exclusive.

God is still your rescuer, your rock, your provider. He is still there for you. Do not mistake what I am saying. But, don’t underestimate your capability in any given situation.

Would you call out for rescue when you have what it takes to find safety?

Would you beg for help when you have the skills to go out and find it?

Would you hide behind God when you could be out shining his light?

As you say “yes” to learning to trust yourself with God’s help, you become the confident, talented, brave woman God made you to be. You bring honor to him. And, he has never been so proud.

This article originally appeared here.

Church After COVID19 — Why Bother Going Back?

By
Carmen Joy Imes
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Church After COVID19 — Why Bother Going Back?

It’s Sunday morning. I sit by the gas fireplace snuggled up in a warm blanket, relishing the quiet. Before long, the rest of the family will stir, and we’ll have a choice to make:

Get ready to go to church?
Livestream the service at home?
Watch it later?
Or skip it altogether?

Some of these options have emerged in 2020, thanks to COVID19. After 6 months of worship at home with church on Zoom or YouTube, rhythms that used to be automatic are no longer a given.

In our county of rural Alberta, Canada, we currently have zero cases of COVID19. Province-wide, K-12 students are back in class, and churches are allowed to meet again. Still, many precautions are in place. Attending church is more complicated now. Some churches require pre-registration, masks, and hand sanitizer. Most have chairs spaced apart or pews blocked off to ensure social distancing. Some won’t let you sing. Many have cancelled programming for children. And frankly, with no handshakes and no visiting in the lobby—in one door and out another—why bother going?

During the stay-at-home orders, many churches stepped up to the challenge of livestreaming services, investing in equipment and training to foster a sense of continuity. Churches that did this well are facing a new challenge: making the case to return to in-person services.

One rural pastor told me that his low-budget, inexperienced attempt at connecting digitally with his congregation has had a happy result: no one is clamoring for him to continue online services! They are all eager to come back to church. Another pastor told me that re-starting his church was proving harder than starting it in the first place.

Frankly, our church has done an excellent job of digitizing services, and our leaders have decided to continue livestreaming now that we’re meeting in person. This is partly for the sake of those who cannot yet safely gather because they are immuno-compromised, partly for those who are sick or in quarantine, partly to reach a wider audience beyond our small town, and partly because we can’t all fit into the building Sunday mornings with the chairs six feet apart.

Let me first say that if your state or county is prohibiting services, then by all means, stay home. Your government leaders are doing their best to keep you safe. This will not last forever. Eventually the restrictions will lift. When that day comes . . . why shatter the peace of the weekend by going through all of the COVID19 rigmarole, exchanging distant greetings, and singing muffled songs? Why not just tune in at home?

COVID19 has foisted an even bigger question on all of us—what is the point of church anyway? Can it be done online as well as in person? And if so, then why go back at all?

Depending on your church tradition, an obvious answer may present itself: communion. If you are Anglican, Episcopalian, Catholic, or Lutheran, you have gone without communion for 6 months or longer. Even for Baptists, crackers and juice at home are not quite the same. Likely, you feel the ache of its absence and you are eager to return. Communion is one important dimension of gathering for Christian worship that YouTube cannot replicate. It points toward a broader issue: embodiment.

Almost 500 years ago, the Heidelberg Catechism described the Christian experience in a way that anticipates our modern dilemma. It begins with a question: “What is your only comfort in life and death? I am not my own, but belong body and soul, both in life and in death, to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ” (Heidelberg Catechism, Question & Answer 1). My body belongs to Jesus. By extension, I also belong to his means of grace in the world, the church. Of course there is much more to being the church (and following Jesus) than attending a weekly service, but gathered worship is one significant aspect of being part of the church. When I choose not to attend, something is missing.

My absence diminishes what Christ can accomplish in and through the church, while my presence is a tangible means of participation in the kingdom. Ultimately, it’s not about “what I get out of it.” The church cannot fully accomplish her purposes in the world when I withhold my presence. Physical participation matters.

The writers of the Heidelberg Catechism could scarcely have anticipated the options we have to worship from home. Still, they insist that we belong to Jesus body and soul. They acknowledge the importance of embodied worship. Something happens when we are physically present together that is simply not possible when we log in online.

According to James K. A. Smith in his excellent book, You Are What You Love (Brazos, 2016), our physical participation has consequences that may be imperceptible now, but these add up to something significant. Our habitual acts shape our loves. Our loves shape who we become. Smith says that in order to cultivate virtue we must immerse ourselves in practices that inscribe them in our heart over time. He insists,

… counterformative Christian worship doesn’t just dispense information; rather, it is a Christ-centered imagination station where we regularly undergo a ritual cleansing of the symbolic universes we absorb elsewhere. Christian worship doesn’t just teach us how to think; it teaches us how to love, and it does so by inviting us into the biblical story and implanting that story in our bones (You Are What You Love, 85).

With this in mind, here are four reasons I am choosing to attend church in person again, now that it is allowed where I live:

1. Weekly fellowship in a church body orients my loves.

Each week my heart is re-calibrated in tiny ways that keep me facing Jesus rather than drifting in another direction. This is true even if I don’t feel particularly inspired or challenged on a given week. Church is not a vending machine, designed to meet my immediate needs. It is a field that, when cultivated year after year, will produce spiritual nourishment. The fact that I don’t walk out every Sunday with a full belly does not mean it is pointless to go. Little by little, week after week, I tend this field until it yields an abundant harvest.

2. Weekly fellowship in a church body reminds me that following Jesus means joining God’s family.

When I signed on as a Christian, it was not a transaction designed primarily to secure my eternal destiny. Becoming a Christian means becoming part of God’s family and changing how I live here and now. Spending week after week with these people, sharing this experience, eventually adds up to a network of caring relationships. It doesn’t happen overnight (remember, it’s a field, not a vending machine), but as we do life together, we lend support to each other on our faith journeys. Simply watching from home positions me as a solitary consumer rather than an active participant. While digital worship has been a gift to keep us connected during this strange season, it is not a sustainable way to cultivate the community of faith.

3. Weekly fellowship in a church body enables me to participate in God’s work of grace in others.

My effort to show up encourages my leaders, upholding their ministry. Any pastor who has tried preaching to a camera knows that it is not the same. My presence supports the work of my pastor and worship leader to study, plan, and prepare. It lends energy and solidarity to their message.

My presence also affirms the value of corporate worship for all those in attendance. My smile and my wave from six feet away and my voice lifted in praise (behind my COVID19 mask) manifest the Spirit’s presence to others who have come. This is what it means to be the image of God. Our identity as God’s image is expressed physically—an embodied reminder of the presence and rule of God. We represent the unseen God to one another. I am not my own. I am a member of something bigger than myself—Christ’s body on earth. For those who have been isolated at home and traumatized by the incessant trials of this difficult year, my physical presence may be a lifeline. Caring eye contact may lend strength for another week.

4. Weekly fellowship in a church body is a means of declaring allegiance to the kingdom of God.

On the outside, the church may not seem like much. It may seem weak. But the church is a visible witness to the unseen reality of God’s kingdom. Being present each week testifies to this. It acknowledges that God’s invisible kingdom is more substantial and more lasting than the other concrete institutions in my community. It will outlast the postal service, local businesses, schools, and politicians and their offices. It will outlast COVID19 and the hurricanes and the wildfires and the ugly inequalities in our world. My participation ensures this. It testifies to that greater and lasting kingdom.

So, for these and other reasons, I go. I hope that as soon as you are able, you will go, too. Our circumstances may still be less than ideal, but the long-term benefits of embodied worship far outweigh the hassles. Whether I feel excited about it or not (and usually I do!), the church is my family, and I cannot be who I am meant to be without it.

This article originally appeared here.

Free Graphics Package: "Radical"

By
Daniel So
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thank you notes for children’s ministry volunteers

Free Graphics Package

Download this graphic to support a series about radical obedience and faith in Christ.

You can use this graphic on your church’s website or Facebook page. This graphics package includes both JPG and customizable PSD files.

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These Church Leaders Believe You Need to Open Your Church

By
Jessica Lea
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thank you notes for children’s ministry volunteers

On Oct. 11, the Family Research Council (FRC) collaborated with Calvary Chapel Chino Hills in California to host an event called Freedom Sunday 2020. The purpose of the event, according to FRC president Tony Perkins, was to speak out against the fear some people have of not meeting for church in person because of COVID-19. The event’s speakers explained their view that there is a scriptural and constitutional basis—even responsibility—for churches to remain open in defiance of government orders.

“As the country has re-opened, some officials have taken unconstitutional steps to restrict churches from worshipping and to unfairly silence them,” says a statement on the website of FRCAction, a legislative affiliate of FRC. “The U.S. Supreme Court essentially said it was OK for casinos, tattoo parlors, abortion clinics, and liquor stores to operate with little or no restrictions, while churches around the country are still being held to a different—and even discriminatory—standard. Friends, as you know, the church is more than essential. It’s time to choose faith over fear. It’s time to honor God over man. It’s time for a Court that will honor and uphold our First Freedom.”

During the event, Rep. Mike Johnson, (Louisiana’s 4th district) suggested Americans are at risk of losing their “deeply embedded” religious heritage, their national identity, and even more than that, “We actually might lose God’s favor and his blessing.”

Freedom Sunday took place at 5 p.m. PT at Calvary Chapel Chino Hills in Chino, California, and people could join in person or via livestream. In-person attendees did not appear to be practicing social distancing or wearing masks. 

Tony Perkins moderated the Freedom Sunday event, which included a variety of speakers as well as video montages churches’ recent legal battles and other current events like the protests against racism. Featured speakers included Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS) president Dr. Albert Mohler, Grace Community Church pastor John MacArthur, and professor and theologian Wayne Grudem.

Freedom Sunday: Churches Have a Right to Resist

A major theme of Freedom Sunday 2020 was that the church has a right to assemble in person in defiance of government restrictions and that the threat of COVID-19 has been blown far out of proportion. This is certainly the view of Pastor John MacArthur, whose Sun Valley church has been engaged in an extensive legal battle against the state of California over their continued gathering. MacArthur said that when communities first locked down, churches were told they needed to do so because millions of people were going to die. So Grace Community Church stopped meeting in person, and MacArthur preached online services to an empty sanctuary.

“I think about four weeks into that it became apparent to our people here in California that millions of people were not dying,” said MacArthur. “People were interacting more with others and they were not as fearful as they had initially been led to believe they should be. And so they started coming back to church.” The pastor said his church never made an announcement encouraging people to come back, but that members kept returning until there were hundreds and then thousands of them. 

“Now there are so many coming on Sunday that we fill up the auditorium standing room only,” said MacArthur. “We don’t tell them anything about social distancing. We don’t tell them anything about masks. We let them make their own judgment.” 

Pastor MacArthur does not believe that his church is putting people in danger by meeting in this way. If people are between the ages of 50 and 64 and live in the state of California, they have a 1 in 19.1 million chance of dying from COVID-19, said the pastor. “People know that,” he said. “They see that.” MacArthur was alluding to a claim made by One America News Network and widely circulated on social media. OAN came to this conclusion based on a study done by UCLA, Stanford; however, one of the study authors has said that this statement “is a misrepresentation of the study and findings.” 

MacArthur went on to state, “In fact, even catching COVID, it only happens to one one hundredth of one percent of the people in California. So our people have become aware of the fact that the fear that is being generated, it doesn’t relate to reality.” Grace Community Church has been open for a couple of months, filled to capacity with no social distancing precautions, and no one has died or been hospitalized, said MacArthur. There were a few people who tested positive for COVID-19 early on, but the church has no known cases currently.

This view of the danger that COVID-19 poses was reiterated later in the program by Dr. Dan Erickson. Erickson owns Accelerated Urgent Care in Bakersfield, California, and he shared discrepancies he has observed between his experience as a doctor and what the media is reporting.

Graham, Harris Share Spotlight as Barrett Hearings Begin

By
AP News
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Barrett hearings
FILE - In this Oct. 1, 2020, file photo Supreme Court nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett, meets with Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, at the Capitol in Washington. Hearings before the Republican-led Senate Judiciary Committee will begin Monday, Oct. 12, for Barrett. (Erin Scott/Pool via AP, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans are vowing a quick confirmation for President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, as the party — undeterred by coronavirus infections or other distractions — rushes to put conservative Judge Amy Coney Barrett on the high court before the Nov. 3 election.

The process starts Monday with hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee. The hearings are likely to be a hybrid of in-person questioning and some participation via video after three GOP senators — including two on the committee — contracted the virus.

The GOP-led panel has held more than 20 hearings during the pandemic as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell continues his drive to confirm conservative judges. The hearings have all had a combination of in-person and remote questioning.

Some outside groups have pushed for Democratic senators to boycott the Barrett hearings to protest the accelerated confirmation process and remind voters of Republicans’ refusal to consider President Barack Obama’s Supreme Court nominee in 2016, but those pleas were ignored. Still, some Democrats have refused to meet with Barrett and the hearings are likely to be contentious, although not as explosive as hearings two years ago to consider Brett Kavanaugh, who was confirmed.

Unable to block Trump’s pick on their own, Democrats argue that Barrett’s confirmation would threaten protections of the Affordable Care Act — a focus that Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has embraced and many Democrats see as a winning message. The court will hear a case challenging the constitutionality of Obama’s health care law just after the election, adding to the urgency of the issue.

Conservative groups have been pushing hard for Barrett’s confirmation and are expected to spend more than $10 million to drum up support for her and pressure senators to swiftly confirm Trump’s third Supreme Court nominee.

Senators to watch as the four-day hearings kick off at the Capitol complex:

SENATE JUDICIARY CHAIRMAN LINDSEY GRAHAM, R-S.C.

At the helm of a process that will include days of televised hearings, Graham will be in the national spotlight, a position he has said may benefit his own political standing. Graham is locked in a tight race for reelection against Democratic challenger Jaime Harrison that has featured record-breaking fundraising and accusations of hypocrisy.

Graham said four years ago that a judicial nominee should not be approved just before a presidential election, adding that voters should “use my words against me” if he changed his mind. “How good is your word?” Harrison asked at a debate last week.

Graham said Barrett “is going to be confirmed because the president has the constitutional authority to do it.”

He called Barrett a “buffer to liberalism” and said he hoped she “won’t be treated like Kavanaugh.” Graham’s fiery 2018 defense of Kavanaugh helped cement the senator’s close relationship with Trump and generated renewed support from conservatives. Graham’s actions also riled up liberals, who are now pouring millions of dollars into Harrison’s campaign and working to oust the GOP senator.

Federal Judge: CHBC Should Be Allowed to Gather in Person

By
Stephanie Martin
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thank you notes for children’s ministry volunteers

On October 9, a federal judge ruled that Capitol Hill Baptist Church (CHBC) in Washington, D.C., can gather for outdoor worship. The church, which offers no online services, had been denied a waiver from the District of Columbia’s ban on religious gatherings of more than 100 people. Meanwhile, it held outdoor worship in a field in Virginia, where restrictions are looser.

In granting CHBC a preliminary injunction, Judge Trevor McFadden said D.C.’s pandemic-related limitations “substantially burden” the church’s exercise of religion. He added that CHBC “is likely to succeed in proving” that D.C.’s restrictions violate the 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

Ruling Restores Equity, Says Capitol Hill Baptist Church

According to CHBC’s lawsuit, senior pastor Mark Dever doesn’t offer livestreamed worship because videos aren’t “a substitute for a covenanted congregation assembling together.” Judge McFadden agreed, saying D.C.’s tight restrictions on religious gatherings “ignore the Church’s sincerely held (and undisputed) belief about the theological importance of gathering in person as a full congregation.”

Though government officials proposed alternatives such as multiple services, drive-in worship, and virtual broadcasts, McFadden ruled, “It is for the Church, not the District or this Court, to define for itself the meaning of ‘not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together’” (from Hebrews 10:25).

CHBC argued that D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser supported large mass protests this summer and that area restaurants have no limits on outdoor customers.

After the victory, CHBC Pastor Justin Sok said, “Our government is restoring equity by extending to religious gatherings the same protections that have been afforded other similar gatherings during this pandemic.” He added, “A church is not a building that can be opened or closed. A church is not an event to be watched. A church is a community that gathers regularly, and we are thankful that such communities are once again being treated fairly by our government.”

Sok also said CHBC appreciates the mayor’s efforts “to protect the public health of our city while balancing the importance of various First Amendment rights.” The congregation, he added, “continues to pray for God’s mercy in ending the ongoing pandemic, that he would protect the lives and well-being of our neighbors, and that many in our city in the coming months would experience the far greater freedom that comes from forgiveness through Jesus Christ.”

More Kudos for the Court Decision 

Travis Wussow of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission also applauded the “excellent” opinion. “This is a critical step in [CHBC’s] efforts to safely and wisely meet,” he says. “The judge made note of both the church’s theological convictions and their efforts to work with the city before even pursuing litigation.”

The U.S. Justice Department had submitted a statement of support for CHBC. Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband calls the ruling “a victory for religious liberty and the rule of law,” adding, “The Department of Justice is…grateful that members of Capitol Hill Baptist Church will be able to worship together on Sunday.”

Jonathan Leeman, an elder at another Baptist church in Washington, D.C., addressed the controversy last week in Christianity Today. “A church is not a church if its members do not all regularly meet together, minus those who are providentially hindered such as the sick, the traveling, the childcare workers, or even the quarantined,” he writes, “All of us have a vested interest in not letting government officials set the definition for what a church is.”

Five Steps to Planting Life Giving Community Groups

By
Acts 29 Network
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thank you notes for children’s ministry volunteers

I am real proud of Brad and excited about this great resource that explains how he led Mars Hill Church to establish over 500 small groups. It is a reproducible model full of robust theology, shepherding principles and practical steps. – Scott Thomas, President of Acts 29

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By Pastor Brad House, author of Community: Taking Your Small Group off Life Support (2011 Crossway)

Click here to watch, “Community: Taking Your Small Groups Off Life Support”

The term “planting” invokes the promise of life. Whether we plant churches or gardens, we plant them with the intent to see them grow and flourish and reproduce. You determine the harvest by the manner you prepare the soil before planting season. It is the same with cultivating a life-giving community within your church. Thoughtful preparation at the beginning can greatly improve the fruitfulness of your community group ministry.

Here are 5 steps that should help get your church started toward life-giving community groups.

1. Ask why.

The first question I ask any pastor or leadership team is, “Why do you have community groups in your church?” The answer sets a trajectory that may determine your success. At Mars Hill Church, we don’t build community groups to grow the church or retain visitors. We build community to reflect the grace of God through Jesus Christ and to accomplish His mission of reconciliation.

2. Establish community groups as an essential element of the church.

If community is an option in the beginning of your church, it will become difficult to make that shift later. Churches who start there tend to have a culture of community that naturally propagates.

3. Build structures and systems that reinforce your vision.

The structures and systems you employ for developing community can reinforce or undermine your vision. A tension exists between a loose management structure and overbearing dictates. One fails to proactively make disciples, the other feels obligatory and artificial. Take the time to consider the effects of your structures and systems to prevent unintentionally snuffing out what makes community life giving.

4. Invest in high-level leaders who own the mission and vision.

You need a handful of leaders who are willing to do the hard work of plowing, seeding and harvesting. Take the time to build up these leaders and they will help you sustain a movement of reproductive community groups. These will be your first coaches who oversee groups and disciple leaders. It is critical to get leaders in these spots that own the mission and vision.  Starting a bunch of groups without them is like expecting crops to grow without someone to nurture, water and weed. These leaders should be your highest priority.

5. Teach your leaders to lead and let them.

I see two mistakes regularly in small group ministries. The first is neglecting to teach leaders how to lead without letting them actually lead. Teach your leaders to be Gospel centered shepherds of the appointed flock among them. The second mistake I see is not teaching them how to engage culture with the Gospel. The group needs to own the vision to make disciples and not just become an insular Bible study. This is the natural tendency if it is not monitored closely.

Healthy small groups grow and reproduce disciple-making disciples. A well-prepared soil with ongoing tending, watering, weeding and reseeding will produce a perpetual crop of disciples.

The Story Behind the Ravi Zacharias Allegations (Part 1): Lawsuits, NDAs, and Email Threads

By
Megan Briggs
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Ravi Zacharias
Screengrab Youtube @Christian Sermons

Editor’s Note: Oct. 13th – This article has been updated to include additional details about the request Ravi Zacharias made to communicate with Lori Anne Thompson over BlackBerry Messenger.

You can read part 2 of the article here.

When news broke of sexting allegations leveled at Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias in 2017, the evangelical world collectively held its breath. And when those allegations seemed to be addressed and resolved, we let it out again. The thought that one of the most influential Christian leaders of the modern age could do something so destructive and then lie about it was troubling, to say the least.

Zacharias passed away in May of this year, and we published a handful of tributes to the late apologist who was famous the world over. In the years before his death, we had published many articles about something Zacharias had said or the way he eloquently explained a certain aspect of the Christian faith. 

When accounts surfaced again this year with new allegations of disturbing sexual misconduct on Zacharias’ part, our editorial team took a renewed interest. After the Roys Report published articles exploring one allegation in greater depth, we felt it would be negligent of us to gloss over the information without at least looking into the claims being made. 

ChurchLeaders spoke to Lori Anne Thompson, the Canadian woman who accused Zacharias of preying on her and drawing her into a sexual relationship in 2016. We also spoke to Thompson’s sister, Tamara Battiste; Thompson’s husband, Brad; a close personal friend of the Thompsons; and a Christian scholar who looked into the matter with the help of a private investigator. ChurchLeaders also spoke to a former employee of a spa Zacharias co-owned, who wished to remain anonymous. We reached out to Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM) and the Christian & Missionary Alliance (the denomination that ordained Zacharias and that conducted an internal inquiry into his actions pertaining to Thompson’s allegations starting in 2017).

While our work is not done looking into this matter, the following is what we have discovered so far. At certain points, we will refer to other outlets’ articles especially in cases where we were not able to make contact with the people who gave statements or information.

Lori Anne Thompson’s 2016 Allegations Against Ravi Zacharias

Lori Anne’s husband, Brad, was a “huge fan” of Zacharias and his ministry prior to meeting him in person, according to a close friend of the Thompsons. In fact, Brad donated a substantial amount of money to UCB Canada, the country’s largest Christian broadcasting network. While Brad was mostly interested in supporting the station’s Christian music and gospel programs, his contributions also supported the airing of some of Zacharias’ content on that station. Tax statements from 2015 to 2017 the Thompsons shared with ChurchLeaders show that Brad (both personally and through the electrical company he owns) donated substantial amounts (one year exceeding $100,000) to UCB, along with other charitable donations to organizations such as Samaritan’s Purse and United Way.

In 2014, Brad was invited by the Chief Operating Officer of UCB Canada, James Hunt, to sponsor a table at the Businessman’s Luncheon in Kingston, Ontario. Zacharias was the keynote speaker at this event. The Thompsons invited two other couples and a friend of Lori Anne’s to sit at their table at the event. After Zacharias’ message, Brad and Lori Anne met the apologist “briefly,” and this is when Zacharias’ assistant took Lori Anne’s email and gave Zacharias’ in exchange. Prior to this point, Lori Anne was not familiar with Zacharias and his ministry.

The second time Brad and Lori Anne met Zacharias was in June 2015. Brad says Zacharias invited the couple to RZIM’s Canadian fundraiser event called Builders, which was an invitation-only event. Brad also said Zacharias invited the couple to dine privately with him the evening before the event. However, in Zacharias’ account of events, he claims the couple invited him and his wife, Margie, to dinner.

Originally, Lori Anne and Brad corresponded with Zacharias in an email between the three of them. Over time, Lori Anne shared with the apologist, whom she considered a father figure and grew to trust, about her abuse-ridden childhood. Brad did not keep up with the communication and eventually, Zacharias requested he and she correspond via BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) citing security reasons. And that’s when things turned inappropriate, according to Lori Anne. 

Both Zacharias and Lori Anne acknowledge that they communicated over BBM at the request of Zacharias. In a lawsuit Zacharias filed against the Thompsons in 2017, his lawyer writes: “As Plaintiff does with colleagues, certain friends and family members with whom he engages in more substantive communications, Plaintiff asked Ms. Thompson that she communicate with him via private BlackBerry Messenger (‘BBM’)—a more secure method of communication than e-mail given its superior security and encryption capabilities.” Zacharias maintained the reason he used BBM was because he traveled overseas frequently, sometimes to countries where his Christian message would be seen as threatening, even illegal, and didn’t want his contacts or phone calls to be used to put others in harm’s way.

It’s important to note that BBM calls are not traceable, however phone records ChurchLeaders obtained show that Lori Anne received calls from Zacharias’ personal cell phone as well as BBM calls immediately following these that lasted upwards of 35 minutes. 

Celebrating New Life

By
Scott Thomas
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thank you notes for children’s ministry volunteers

Below is the story of a baptism event at Vintage21 Church in Raleigh, NC. Pastor Matt Stevens beautifully describes the event and the work of Jesus in the lives of those who were baptized.

These words were the response of a man about to be baptized in Jordan Lake this past Sunday at our annual BBQ Baptism. The look on his face as he said this caused a burst of joy to well up within me, and even now brings a smile. I had just shared with him that going under the water represented an identification with the death and burial of Jesus Christ, the Son of God who was crucified for our sins. And when he burst up out of the water, he’s declaring to all who gathered that he is no longer enslaved to sin, but through Christ is an adopted child of God. I asked if he was ready for this.

“I’ve never been more ready for anything.”

The look on his face was peace, contentment, and joy. In that moment, there was no guilt over his sin; he believed that Jesus Christ had completely forgiven him. In that moment, he was not striving to make himself right with God, but resting in the work of Jesus. The look on his face was someone who had experienced grace from the good Father.

Hundreds of people from all campuses of Vintage21 Church were gathered on the shore, and erupted in applause and shouts of praise whenever someone came up out of the water. For most of us there, it was a reminder of our identity with God as his children, and that we too have been made right with God. For others, it was yet another invitation to the free grace of Jesus. For all, it was a picture of the reason Vintage21 Church exists. We are Christ’s church, and through the church he’s carrying out his mission to make disciples.

I’m grateful to everyone who came out, brought food, and supported those who were baptized. Praise God for what he has done in the lives of those nine people at Vintage21 Church! Let’s pray that more people would experience the freedom found in Jesus. Be encouraged, church – God is on the move!

Matt Stevens

I Sacrificed More by Leaving the Mission Field

By
Jackson Wu
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thank you notes for children’s ministry volunteers

“I sacrificed more by leaving the mission field.” When my friend recently made this statement, I not only knew she was right; I recognized how few people realized the cost missionaries pay when  returning to their home country. Far fewer churches and mission organizations talk about it.

First of all, what does she mean? How can people say they sacrificed more by leaving the mission field than by going in the first place? After all, missionaries give up job with more lucrative salaries and benefits. They leave loved ones and miss out of holidays, major family events, and the like. Of course, they will face various minor or major hardships once they arrive in their place of service.

Even if someone disputes the word “more,” the costs are comparative. In reality, the costs of leaving the field are merely delayed costs of going in the first place.

The Costs of “Returning Home”

Working cross-culturally can change people. For short termers (2-3 years or less), the effects will vary depending on the person. However, long-term missionaries can no longer see the world as they did before being immersed in another place.

The experience fundamentally shifts basic assumptions, habits, and even values. Second-culture adults often share certain characteristics as TCKs (“third culture kids”). In particular, they increasingly feel culturally homeless. They neither belong in their passport country nor their places of service. In addition, don’t forget the emotional investment missionaries must make in order to keep them in a foreign context for so long. They love local friends and are committed to their ministry.

Still, when I speak of sacrifices, I’m not simply speaking of the emotional toil of transition and adjustment. Consider some of the practical consequences of long-term service.

1. Finances

Missionaries do not make a lot of money. That’s no secret. The vast majority of missionaries must do some sort of fund raising on a perpetual basis. As a result, they often have very little in their savings.

What little they might have tucked away will probably be spent during the transition back to their passport country. Shipping their belongings is expensive; yet, the alternative is only marginally better. Families often must start over from scratch. They need to purchase tables, chairs, appliances, vehicles, along with countless other items.

The more children they have, the less likely they are to have any substantial sum set aside for college. In some cases, I’ve heard missionaries lament that they have no home state in which their kid could have “in-state residency.”

2. Credit

Once you land, you need a home. You can’t live with relatives for long. Apartments are not a good long-term option financially. However, people need credit in order to purchase a house. Missionaries often have little credit history. They might have some revolving credit, but they would not have bought many cars or homes via credit.

Since they are transplanting their families across the world, they might not yet have a new job. Their previous employment (i.e., as missionaries) will not inspire confidence in banks to lend money. Their assets typically are limited.

3. Employment

Long-term missionaries routinely struggle to find jobs.

Sure, they might speak another language and are comfortable working with diverse populations; however, large employers rarely care whether you can use a tribal dialect. And even if you can speak French or Mandarin, you still need other skills that make you attractive to employers.

What about working in the local church? First, not all missionaries have the theological training that would qualify them for many pastoral positions. Second, although there is overlap between missions and pastoral ministry, significant differences remain.

Third, the number of “missions pastor” positions is limited. Those churches that do have such a position tend to be larger churches (and disproportionately located in the American South). For several reasons, long-terms missionaries are not always good fits for those positions. Moreover, many churches want their missions pastors to do local ministry and, ironically, minimize the scope of cross-cultural work.

(Even if someone has an upper-level degree, social changes, especially in America, can be it difficult for persons to find jobs in certain fields.)

Naturally, some people had careers before serving as missionaries. After a decade or more in another culture and vocation, they will lack the experience needed to be hired in their field. In other cases, missionaries will find that their credentials or licenses have expired due to not renewing them or not receiving continuing education.

I know for a fact that many missionaries feel the pressure to stay on the mission field longer than they’d prefer. Why? Simply because they know they have nothing to go to. Either because of age or the factors above, they know they’ll be unemployed indefinitely.

4. Network

“Out of sight, out of mind.” That’s the unfortunate reality that long-term missionaries face. Many friends and family intend well. They love us. Still, their attention will shift to people they see more often. Emails are exchanged with less and less frequency. Missionaries eventually lose contact with numerous friends. While Facebook and Instagram can keep us up to date with some parts of others’ lives, they don’t make up for presence. They are not personal means of maintaining close friendships.

Consequently, one’s social network decreases. The number of meaningful relationships decreases such that missionaries have few people to help them through their difficult transition. Sometimes, a missionary simply needs advice. Google can explain the meaning of “escrow” but it can’t provide nuanced feedback about various life choices. Not surprisingly, many returning missionaries suffer from loneliness. Depression can set in and perpetuate their problems.

5. Social

Finally, returning missionaries often feel “culturally irrelevant.” They are coming back to a country quite different than the one they left. In a place like America, social changes happen at a rapid pace.

Since the early 2000s, gay marriage has become legal in all states. Smartphones and social media dominate every aspect of life. Terrorism, mass shootings, political polarization, and #MeToo are just few things that have transformed the social environment in America.

Returning missionaries quickly find that they, in some ways, remain “second-culture” adults, at least for a while. They are at a disadvantage in discerning cultural rules and forming new friendships. The anxiety and stress are wearisome.

This article originally appeared here.

Does Blind Obedience Mean You Have More Faith?

By
Geoffrey Holsclaw
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thank you notes for children’s ministry volunteers

Does Blind Obedience Mean You Have More Faith?

To the question, “Why pray?” I’ve heard the answer, “Because God commanded it.”

This is pretty is pretty confusing, unsatisfying for me, and dangerous for the faith.

Sure we can there are passages in the Bible that commands us to pray.

But too often this kind of answer, “Because God said so…,” that doesn’t look for deeper reasons, leads to destructive discipleship (and it forgets the human side of prayer).

Does Blind Obedience Mean You Have More Faith?

For some people, just relying on obedience, without thinking through the reasons, often feels more faithful.

But that’s not necessarily true.

We can trick ourselves into thinking that that not thinking is more faithful.  That it takes more faith to “just obey.”

And if it’s true that not thinking is more faithful, then we start thinking that asking questions is less faithful.

We are tricked to think that “thinking about things means we lack faith.”

This is a dangerous path (or slippery slope).

  • God commands it, so I do it.
  • God commands it, so I do it, and I don’t wonder, reason, or think about it (blind faith).
  • God commands it, so I do it without thinking because that means I have more faith (we think this is good).
  • God commands it, so I do it, because asking questions means I have less faith (we think this is bad).

So often I’ve seen destructive discipleship spring from relying on a “Because God said it…” mentality.  We think it is more faithful to not think, and we end up vilianizing those who ask questions.

Or worse still, we stifle our own questions until they explode into a full on “faith crisis.”

Good Reasons 

But the fact is, God has good reasons for the things he commands.  And it isn’t a sign of a weak faith to seek them out.

In fact, it actually grows our faith in the goodness of God to understand the good reason for the good things he calls us to.

And then, for those time when we don’t understand what God is calling us, our faith in God’s goodness will be so big that we will gladly follow him.  But we follow God not because we believe his commands, but because we believe he is good.

What About God’s Glory?

Some might ask, but doesn’t God get more glory when we obey without knowing why?

God’s glory is a big topic. But I will just say that the purpose of God’s glory—and our purpose for everything we do— is not upward but outward.

And there is the time Moses declared, “Show me your glory.” And God responded with, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you” (Exodus 33:18-20).

So God’s glory and goodness always go together.

We should never separate what God has joined.

What I’m not saying…

I’m not saying that faith isn’t important.

I’m not saying we always understand God, and that his commands always makes sense.  Often they don’t.

God has prompted me to do and say things that “took a lot of faith” exactly because I didn’t understand how things were going to work out.  There is a saying in the Vineyard that “faith” is spelled R.I.S.K.

So, in our daily lives we should takes risks of faith.  Yes! Absolutely!

But when it comes to reflecting on the life of faith—it is OK to ask questions.

And it is OK to ask questions about God’s commands.

God is not just a lawmaker

God wants a relationships, and is welcoming us into a family.

Sure, families have rules (commands).  But those are just there to protect and prosper the relationships.

SO, not thinking about faith doesn’t mean you have more faith.

AND, It is OK to be a thoughtful Christian, and a faithful Christian at the same time.

This article originally appeared here.

Free Kids’ Lesson Package: “Monsters”

By
Daniel So
-

Free Kids’ Lesson Package

From CMD, “Teach kids Bible lessons about trusting God when they’re afraid of scary things.  Week 1 is all about the “Monsters Out There”  Sometimes the world can be a scary place. Between school and the dentist and making new friends, there’s a lot out that we might be afraid of. Kids will learn to trust God when they face scary things by studying David and Goliath, 1 Samuel 17.”

This lesson package includes:

  • Make It Stick! Parent Sheet
  • Memory Verse
  • Skit
  • Object Lesson or Kids Sermon
  • Large Group Lesson
  • Small Group Discussion
  • Large Group Game
  • Take Home Activity


Get Download Now

Resource provided by Children’s Ministry Deals


Download Instructions: To download these resources, follow the on-screen directions at the download site.

Connecting With People – Clicks vs Results

By
Jonathan Smith
-
thank you notes for children’s ministry volunteers

Ministry has changed over the past 6 months and changed significantly. Like all other aspects of life, the pandemic has deeply modified how we are connecting with people. The irony is that technology has made a difficult situation easier . . . in some ways. I’ve been reading accounts of the Spanish Flu pandemic in 1918 and the correlations to the current Covid-19 pandemic are startling.

The biggest difference between 1918 and today is our evolved technology. Not only is our medical technology better for treatment of the virus but our technology for life and communication is also far superior to what they had 102 years ago.

Today we have the technology to pivot from physical to virtual to hybrid. Today we have the technology to allow us to contact anyone, anywhere, anytime, and not just hear them, but see them as well. Today we have complex databases that allow us to keep track of who we’ve contacted and how they are doing. Today we have mountains of reports to help close the back door and not let folks slip through the cracks. Today the technology that is making ministry possible in many ways is also creating tremendous hurdles.

Connecting with people, in person or virtually, takes work. Building relationships has often been compared to building bridges. A bridge doesn’t just happen by accident. Building a bridge takes a lot of time, a lot of planning, and an incredible amount of effort – not to mention a significant investment of resources. In many ways connecting with folks on a personal level has the same requirements. Building bridges can also be messy and doesn’t always turn out the way you want it to. Unfortunately bridges collapse or fail.

Perhaps we need to spend less time clicking and more time concentrating on relationships. Ministry is not just clicking check boxes off on a spreadsheet or database. While tracking progress and results is important that can’t get in the way of building a genuine relationship. Perfunctory contacts fool no one. The person you are trying to build a bridge too needs to know it is out of an intentional desire to get to know them.

Mass emails, or phone calls, or required weekly contacts may be part of relationships but cannot be the only tool when it comes to connecting with people. Some want a phone call, some a text, others a video chat. Regardless of the technological method used the content and passion behind the relationship effort must be tangible. Bridges don’t just happen, and neither do quality relationships with those we serve.

Recent surveys suggest that the quality of a relationship a church has with those attending the better chance they will return when the pandemic ends. Surveys also suggest that many who claim to be watching church online now aren’t, making any return to in person worship even more challenging. It would be naïve to assume that folks will come back on their own. They need their relationship with the church cultivated, and encouragement in their relationship with Jesus Christ. Bridges aren’t built and done; they require continuous work – so do relationships. Getting people back to church will be in no small part directly related to how well we stayed connected while apart.

When it comes to connecting with people, a report showing the number of emails sent, or number of phone calls made does not indicate the value of the connections. There is an art to connecting with someone, if you have that gift, teach others. If you lack that gift, learn from others but do not assume everyone communicates the same.

Remember, once the bridge is built, someone must be the first to cross it. An unused bridge does no good. Even if they won’t admit it, many are lonely, and hoping someone will walk across the bridge towards them.

 

 

Tim Tebow: How to Stay Grounded When Life Throws You a Curveball

By
Andrew Hess
-
thank you notes for children’s ministry volunteers

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Tim Tebow is a two-time national champion, first round NFL draft pick, and Heisman trophy winner. He is currently signed to play professional baseball with the New York Mets and is a college football analyst for the SEC Network. Prior to this, Tebow played three years in the NFL for the Denver Broncos, New York Jets and New England Patriots. Tebow is active in a variety of philanthropic activities through his Tim Tebow Foundation. Tim’s latest book is titled Shaken: Discovering Your True Identity in the Midst of Life’s Storms.

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Key Questions:

You pulled off some incredible come-from-behind wins when you were playing for the Denver Broncos. How were you applying Scripture during those games?

How did you keep trusting in God after a difficult loss?

How do you steward the influence God has given you?

Key Quotes:

“We all go through times in our life where we might be shaken, and when we’re in those moments, what do we have to hold on to? Who are we in those moments, more importantly, whose are we in those moments?”

“When you’re going through the highs, it’s so easy to say ‘God I trust you…I know you have a plan’…but it’s really when you go through the lows where you really have to trust God for who he is, what he says and the plan he has for your life.”

“God is so much bigger than a game. And at the end of the day, it’s just a game.”

“One of my favorite verses is Ephesians 2:10…you can sum up that verse that God write a poem about our life for good works before we were ever born. That’s how much we mean to him.”

“God’s not only enough. He’s so much more than enough.”

“I really believe that almost every single person in this world has someone that is watching them—someone they can influence. They might be a brother, a friend, a neighbor, a cousin, someone at their school, someone at their workplace…”

“We have such a responsibility to love and to share with the people that are watching us, and that doesn’t mean that we’re going to be perfect, because we’re not, we’re going to fall and we’re going to mess up…but I think it’s so important to try and to strive to make a difference for the people that are looking up to us and watching us.”

“Our legacy is not going to be in the money that we make, the books that we sell, and the games that we won, and the championships that we have. None of that is going to mean anything. What’s going to mean something is what we do in people’s life—what we do to impact people for the Kingdom of God.”

“So much of the Bible is broken down into two things: Loving Jesus and loving people.”
“The task at hand is not that everyone likes us or even everyone loves us. The task at hand is that we can share the good news of the gospel with every person we come into contact with.”

“I think it’s important to have people close to you, in your inner circle that aren’t going to tell you what you want to hear; they’re going to tell you what you need to hear, and they’re going to tell you when you’re doing it right and they’re going to tell you when you’ve been a jerk.”

Mentioned in the Show:

Shaken: Discovering Your True Identity in the Midst of Life’s Storms

Shaken Bible Study

Tim Tebow Foundation

Beth Moore Breaks Political Silence to Speak Out Against Donald Trump

By
Megan Briggs
-

On Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016, popular Bible teacher and speaker Beth Moore broke her silence on political issues and posted a series of tweets that sent waves through the evangelical community. Moore’s tweet-sized messages called out Christian leaders who have turned a blind eye to the plight of women who have been objectified, sexually abused and sexually harassed.

Moore’s exact words were as follows, coming in response to the leaked tape of Trump joking with a TV host about how he enjoys objectifying and groping women.

Several other notable Christian voices were quick to applaud Moore for her speaking out. Bob Goff, author of Love Does, responded, “Beth, you are a strong, humble voice. I’m always so proud of you.”

Rachel Held Evans, author of A Year of Biblical Womanhood, thanked Moore for speaking up about the gravity of sexual assault and then urged her followers: “Evangelicals, please listen to your sister.”

Christine Caine, founder of the A21 campaign and author of Unashamed, retweeted three of Moore’s tweets as a show of solidarity.

Moore certainly isn’t the first evangelical voice to speak out against Trump, but she’s definitely the first with a large-scale evangelical platform for women, and her words pack a powerful punch about sexual abuse and our culture’s acceptance of it as a normal occurrence. However, given the timing of her tweets and their subject, an underlying message about the problem of the Trump campaign emerges: He is a leader who downplays his mistreatment of women while being endorsed by big-name evangelicals.

Leaders like Robert Jeffress, Jerry Falwell Jr. and Pat Robertson are still standing behind Trump and downplaying the leaked video as lewd and “macho” talk, by stating that we all sin and Trump did ask for forgiveness.

Russell Moore, an evangelical leader who has been adamantly against Trump from the very beginning of the campaign, spoke with The Daily Beast about the misogyny of Trump and said, “I have heard from many, many evangelical women who are horrified by Christian leaders ignoring this as an issue.”

Three Words To Live By

By
Dan Wilt
-

Here are the Three Words To Live By images.

The Three Words To Live By clothing and gift line can be found here.

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